BACKGROUND

Corticosteroids have been used in ophthalmology for its potent anti-inflammatory and immunosuppressive actions. Although the role of corticosteroid treatment is pivotal in the treatment of numerous inflammatory diseases and as postoperative management of patients who undergo ocular surgeries, intraocular pressure (IOP) elevation has been a significant ocular side effect that could result after steroid use. Evaluating the changes in IOP in pediatric eyes will provide early detection and timely intervention to prevent glaucomatous optic neuropathy.

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed to determine the incidence of IOP elevation among pediatric patients given corticosteroids after strabismus surgery in a tertiary hospital in Manila, Philippines.

METHODS

This is a single-center, retrospective, observational study that employs review of the clinical records of pediatric patients who underwent strabismus surgery between January 2015 and December 2022. This study was conducted last February to November 2023. Data were gathered and descriptively summarized regarding patient demographics, ophthalmologic diagnosis, type of strabismus surgery performed, preoperative and postoperative IOP readings, frequency and duration of postoperative topical steroid use, and treatment received and response to elevated IOP.

RESULTS

Forty-five (28.48%) out of the 158 pediatric patients who had strabismus surgery during the study period met the inclusion criteria for the study. The mean age of pediatric patients was 11.38 ± 5.28 years (range 2-18 years old). There were more males (55.6%) than females. All patients were administered Tobramycin + Dexamethasone eyedrops, ointment or both. The baseline, peak, and net change in IOP were 13.5 ± 2.7 mmHg, 23.1 ± 8.8 mmHg and 10 ± 8.4 mmHg respectively. IOP increased in thirty-seven (82.2%) of the patients from baseline, and 21 (56.7%) of them had a considerable rise. For most patients with considerable rise of IOP, topical steroid medication was either stopped or immediately tapered off. Nine patients received topical IOP-lowering medicine, and most of them returned to normal IOP levels two months following surgery. After then, topical IOP-lowering drugs were stopped.

CONCLUSION

IOP elevation following strabismus surgery was frequently associated with topical steroid usage, and most patients experienced considerable IOP elevation. It is highly advised to closely monitor IOP following strabismus surgery, particularly in children receiving topical steroid treatment.

Human ; Male ; Female ; Child Preschool: 2-5 Yrs Old ; Child: 6-12 Yrs Old ; Adolescent: 13-18 Yrs Old ; Strabismus ; Intraocular Pressure ; Ophthalmology ; World Health Organization ; Optic Nerve Diseases ; Volition ; General Surgery

BACKGROUND

Corticosteroids have been used in ophthalmology for its potent anti-inflammatory and immunosuppressive actions. Although the role of corticosteroid treatment is pivotal in the treatment of numerous inflammatory diseases and as postoperative management of patients who undergo ocular surgeries, intraocular pressure (IOP) elevation has been a significant ocular side effect that could result after steroid use. Evaluating the changes in IOP in pediatric eyes will provide early detection and timely intervention to prevent glaucomatous optic neuropathy.

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed to determine the incidence of IOP elevation among pediatric patients given corticosteroids after strabismus surgery in a tertiary hospital in Manila, Philippines.

METHODS

This is a single-center, retrospective, observational study that employs review of the clinical records of pediatric patients who underwent strabismus surgery between January 2015 and December 2022. This study was conducted last February to November 2023. Data were gathered and descriptively summarized regarding patient demographics, ophthalmologic diagnosis, type of strabismus surgery performed, preoperative and postoperative IOP readings, frequency and duration of postoperative topical steroid use, and treatment received and response to elevated IOP.

RESULTS

Forty-five (28.48%) out of the 158 pediatric patients who had strabismus surgery during the study period met the inclusion criteria for the study. The mean age of pediatric patients was 11.38 ± 5.28 years (range 2-18 years old). There were more males (55.6%) than females. All patients were administered Tobramycin + Dexamethasone eyedrops, ointment or both. The baseline, peak, and net change in IOP were 13.5 ± 2.7 mmHg, 23.1 ± 8.8 mmHg and 10 ± 8.4 mmHg respectively. IOP increased in thirty-seven (82.2%) of the patients from baseline, and 21 (56.7%) of them had a considerable rise. For most patients with considerable rise of IOP, topical steroid medication was either stopped or immediately tapered off. Nine patients received topical IOP-lowering medicine, and most of them returned to normal IOP levels two months following surgery. After then, topical IOP-lowering drugs were stopped.

CONCLUSION

IOP elevation following strabismus surgery was frequently associated with topical steroid usage, and most patients experienced considerable IOP elevation. It is highly advised to closely monitor IOP following strabismus surgery, particularly in children receiving topical steroid treatment.

Human ; Male ; Female ; Child Preschool: 2-5 Yrs Old ; Child: 6-12 Yrs Old ; Adolescent: 13-18 Yrs Old ; Strabismus ; Intraocular Pressure ; Ophthalmology ; World Health Organization ; Optic Nerve Diseases ; Volition ; General Surgery

OBJECTIVE

To present a long-term follow-up report of a 10-year-old male with optic nerve glioma who underwent surgical removal and postoperative chemotherapy.

METHODS

Case report.

RESULTS

A 10-year-old Filipino boy was referred to a tertiary institution for a five-year history of progressive right eye proptosis with vision loss. Pertinent findings included right eye proptosis, lagophthalmos, and limited elevation and adduction. He also had several hyperpigmented lesions on the abdomen and upper torso. Vision on the right was no light perception, with a relative afferent pupillary defect, exposure keratopathy, and optic nerve pallor. Vision on the left eye was 20/20 with a temporal visual field defect. Cranial and orbital computed tomography (CT) scan showed a circumscribed enhancing mass within the right intraconal space with widened right optic nerve canal. Additional magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) revealed a heterogeneously enhancing mass diffusely involving the intraorbital and intracanalicular segments of the right optic nerve suspicious for optic nerve glioma. He underwent excision of the orbital portion of the mass via lateral orbitotomy. Histopathology showed pilocytic astrocytoma. Eight cycles of chemotherapy with carboplatin and vincristine was completed. Significant improvement of globe position and resolution of ocular exposure was achieved postoperatively with residual right ptosis. These findings remained stable at six years after treatment.

CONCLUSION

Optic nerve gliomas with intracanalicular and chiasmal extension can be managed with surgical removal of the orbital component and postoperative chemotherapy. This can result in improvement of proptosis and long-term remission.

Human ; Male ; Child: 6-12 Yrs Old ; Optic Nerve Glioma ; Neurofibromatosis 1 ; Pilocytic Astrocytoma ; Astrocytoma ; Chemotherapy ; Drug Therapy

Human ; Optic Nerve Diseases ; Optic Neuropathy, Ischemic ; Ophthalmologists

OBJECTIVE: To explore the mechanism of BNIP3-mediated mitophagy in m.3635G>A related Leber's hereditary optic neuropathy (LHON). METHODS: A trans-mitochondrial cybrid cell line derived from a Chinese LHON patient carrying the m.3635G>A, diagnosed at the Eye Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University in September 2013, was selected as the study subject. A trans-mitochondrial cybrid cell line from a healthy control with an identical mitochondrial background was included as a control. Immunofluorescence, real-time quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR), and Western blotting were employed to assess the expression of autophagy-related proteins, aiming to explore the role of BNIP3-mediated mitophagy in m.3635G>A related LHON. This study was approved by the Medical Ethics Committee of the Eye Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University (Ethics No. 2023-J-096). RESULTS: Compared with the control group, the protein expression levels of autophagy-related markers LC3 (LC3-II/LC3-I) and LAMP1 were significantly reduced in the variant group (P < 0.05). Additionally, the protein levels of macroautophagy-related proteins ATG12, ATG7, and ATG5 were also significantly decreased (P < 0.05). Compared with the control cells, the mRNA and protein expression levels of mitophagy-associated protein BNIP3 were significantly reduced in the cells of the variant group (P < 0.05). Compared with the control group, both mRNA and protein expression levels of the mitophagy-related protein BNIP3 were significantly reduced in the variant group (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION The m.3635G>A inhibits BNIP3-mediated mitophagy, thereby contributing to the pathogenesis of LHON.
Humans ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins/metabolism* ; Mitophagy/genetics* ; Membrane Proteins/metabolism* ; Optic Atrophy, Hereditary, Leber/metabolism* ; Mitochondria/metabolism* ; Cell Line ; Male

IL-33 and its receptor ST2 play crucial roles in tissue repair and homeostasis. However, their involvement in optic neuropathy due to trauma and glaucoma remains unclear. Here, we report that IL-33 and ST2 were highly expressed in the mouse optic nerve and retina. Deletion of IL-33 or ST2 exacerbated retinal ganglion cell (RGC) loss, retinal thinning, and nerve fiber degeneration following optic nerve (ON) injury. This heightened retinal neurodegeneration correlated with increased neurotoxic astrocytes in Il33^-/- mice. In vitro, rIL-33 mitigated the neurotoxic astrocyte phenotype and reduced the expression of pro-inflammatory factors, thereby alleviating the RGC death induced by neurotoxic astrocyte-conditioned medium in retinal explants. Exogenous IL-33 treatment improved RGC survival in Il33^-/- and WT mice after ON injury, but not in ST2^-/- mice. Our findings highlight the role of the IL-33/ST2 axis in modulating reactive astrocyte function and providing neuroprotection for RGCs following ON injury.
Animals ; Interleukin-33/genetics* ; Interleukin-1 Receptor-Like 1 Protein/genetics* ; Optic Nerve Injuries/pathology* ; Retinal Ganglion Cells/pathology* ; Astrocytes/pathology* ; Mice ; Mice, Knockout ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Neuroprotection/physiology*

To explore the clinical features and influencing factors of first-onset neuromyelitis optica spectrum disease (NMOSD) within 1 year after delivery. A single center, observational cohort study was used to retrospectively analyze 12 patients with first-onset NMOSD within 1 year after delivery hospitalized in the Department of Neurology of Beijing Tong Ren Hospital from June 2015 to June 2018(short as the postpartum onset group). 12 patients with first-onset NMOSD without 1 year after delivery hospitalized in our department during the same period were selected (short as the control group). The results showed the next recurrence interval in the postpartum onset group was longer than the control group [the postpartum onset group: (6.1±3.5) years, the control group: (1.6±1.5) years, t=3.622,P=0.005], the times of relapses were less than the control group [the postpartum onset group: (1.8±1.4) times, the control group:4.0 (3.0, 7.3) times, Z=-3.122,P=0.002], and expanded disability status scale (EDSS) of the last follow-up was lower than the control group [the postpartum onset group: 3.0(2.3, 3.9), the control group: 4.5(4.0, 6.0), Z=-3.358,P=0.001] with statistically significant differences. The recurrence rates of 1 year, 3 years and 5 years in the postpartum onset group (0%, 16.7%, 33.3%) were lower than control group (58.3%, 83.3%, 91.7%) with statistically significant differences (χ²=8.000,P=0.014;χ²=10.667,P=0.003; χ²=8.711,P=0.009). After the second delivery, the recurrence rate in postpartum onset group was 100% (n=3) and in control group was 50%(n=2), but the difference was not statistically significant (χ²=2.100,P=0.429). In the postpartum onset group, combination of autoimmune disease was consistent with positive in serum AQP-4 antibody moderately (Kappa=0.5, P=0.046). Positive in other autoimmune antibodies were consistent with positive in serum AQP-4 antibody moderately (Kappa=0.5, P=0.046). Combination of autoimmune disease were consistent with positive in serum other autoimmune antibodies well (Kappa=0.667, P=0.021). In conclusion, the first-onset NMOSD within 1 year after delivery have longer next recurrence interval, less times of relapses, lower relapse rate, better long-term prognosis of central nervous system, and they have trend to suffering from recurrent after the second delivery. For the females, combined with autoimmune disease or autoimmune antibody, who are ready for pregnancy, could detect serum AQP-4; if serum AQP-4 positive, they are recommended to prevent the occurrence of NMOSD after delivery.
Pregnancy ; Female ; Humans ; Neuromyelitis Optica/diagnosis* ; Retrospective Studies ; Cohort Studies ; Postpartum Period ; Recurrence

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the characteristics and objective assessment method of visual field defects caused by optic chiasm and its posterior visual pathway injury. METHODS: Typical cases of visual field defects caused by injuries to the optic chiasm, optic tracts, optic radiations, and visual cortex were selected. Visual field examinations, visual evoked potential (VEP) and multifocal visual evolved potential (mfVEP) measurements, craniocerebral CT/MRI, and retinal optical coherence tomography (OCT) were performed, respectively, and the aforementioned visual electrophysiological and neuroimaging indicators were analyzed comprehensively. RESULTS: The electrophysiological manifestations of visual field defects caused by optic chiasm injuries were bitemporal hemianopsia mfVEP abnormalities. The visual field defects caused by optic tract, optic radiation, and visual cortex injuries were all manifested homonymous hemianopsia mfVEP abnormalities contralateral to the lesion. Mild relative afferent pupil disorder (RAPD) and characteristic optic nerve atrophy were observed in hemianopsia patients with optic tract injuries, but not in patients with optic radiation or visual cortex injuries. Neuroimaging could provide morphological evidence of damages to the optic chiasm and its posterior visual pathway. CONCLUSIONS Visual field defects caused by optic chiasm, optic tract, optic radiation, and visual cortex injuries have their respective characteristics. The combined application of mfVEP and static visual field measurements, in combination with neuroimaging, can maximize the assessment of the location and degree of visual pathway damage, providing an effective scheme for the identification of such injuries.
Humans ; Optic Chiasm/pathology* ; Visual Pathways/pathology* ; Visual Fields ; Evoked Potentials, Visual ; Random Amplified Polymorphic DNA Technique ; Hemianopsia/complications* ; Vision Disorders/pathology* ; Optic Nerve Injuries/diagnostic imaging* ; Brain Injuries, Traumatic/diagnostic imaging*

To explore the clinical features and influencing factors of first-onset neuromyelitis optica spectrum disease (NMOSD) within 1 year after delivery. A single center, observational cohort study was used to retrospectively analyze 12 patients with first-onset NMOSD within 1 year after delivery hospitalized in the Department of Neurology of Beijing Tong Ren Hospital from June 2015 to June 2018(short as the postpartum onset group). 12 patients with first-onset NMOSD without 1 year after delivery hospitalized in our department during the same period were selected (short as the control group). The results showed the next recurrence interval in the postpartum onset group was longer than the control group [the postpartum onset group: (6.1±3.5) years, the control group: (1.6±1.5) years, t=3.622,P=0.005], the times of relapses were less than the control group [the postpartum onset group: (1.8±1.4) times, the control group:4.0 (3.0, 7.3) times, Z=-3.122,P=0.002], and expanded disability status scale (EDSS) of the last follow-up was lower than the control group [the postpartum onset group: 3.0(2.3, 3.9), the control group: 4.5(4.0, 6.0), Z=-3.358,P=0.001] with statistically significant differences. The recurrence rates of 1 year, 3 years and 5 years in the postpartum onset group (0%, 16.7%, 33.3%) were lower than control group (58.3%, 83.3%, 91.7%) with statistically significant differences (χ²=8.000,P=0.014;χ²=10.667,P=0.003; χ²=8.711,P=0.009). After the second delivery, the recurrence rate in postpartum onset group was 100% (n=3) and in control group was 50%(n=2), but the difference was not statistically significant (χ²=2.100,P=0.429). In the postpartum onset group, combination of autoimmune disease was consistent with positive in serum AQP-4 antibody moderately (Kappa=0.5, P=0.046). Positive in other autoimmune antibodies were consistent with positive in serum AQP-4 antibody moderately (Kappa=0.5, P=0.046). Combination of autoimmune disease were consistent with positive in serum other autoimmune antibodies well (Kappa=0.667, P=0.021). In conclusion, the first-onset NMOSD within 1 year after delivery have longer next recurrence interval, less times of relapses, lower relapse rate, better long-term prognosis of central nervous system, and they have trend to suffering from recurrent after the second delivery. For the females, combined with autoimmune disease or autoimmune antibody, who are ready for pregnancy, could detect serum AQP-4; if serum AQP-4 positive, they are recommended to prevent the occurrence of NMOSD after delivery.
Pregnancy ; Female ; Humans ; Neuromyelitis Optica/diagnosis* ; Retrospective Studies ; Cohort Studies ; Postpartum Period ; Recurrence

Central nervous system involvement in primary Sjögren's syndrome (pSS) is less common and usually presents as white matter lesions, neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD), or transverse myelitis. NMOSD is an immune-mediated inflammatory demyelinating disease of the central nervous system with a high rate of relapse and significant disability. Studies have shown that patients with pSS combined with NMOSD have more severe symptoms and poorer prognosis. Here, we present a case of critical illness in pregnancy-associated NMOSD combined with Sjögren's syndrome. The patient was a 30-year-old pregnant woman with a history of Sjögren's syndrome who was diagnosed with NMOSD. She received combination therapy with steroids, intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG), and hydroxychloroquine during pregnancy, resulting in partial resolution of numbness below the waist. However, due to irregular medication adherence outside the hospital setting, she developed weakness in her right lower limb accompanied by inability to move it, while her left lower limb still had some mobility but occasional numbness along with urinary and fecal incontinence. Ten days later, she was admitted to the emergency department where an emergency cesarean section was performed to deliver a healthy baby boy. However, her condition worsened postpartum as she developed high fever accompanied by bilateral lower limb paralysis and weakness along with loss of voluntary control over urination and defecation. The patient underwent ano-ther course of treatment consisting of steroids and IVIG; however there was limited improvement in symptoms observed after this intervention. Following administration of rituximab for the first time, the patient developed urinary tract infection which was successfully managed before continuing regular infusions. In later stages the patient could walk slightly with a limp and regained control over urination and defecation, allowing her to resume normal activities. This case suggests that combination therapy with steroids, IVIG, and hydroxychloroquine should be considered for the patients with pregnancy-associated NMOSD combined with Sjögren's syndrome. Rituximab can significantly improve symptoms such as postpartum paralysis in patients with NMOSD, however, there may be a risk of infection associated with its use.
Adult ; Female ; Humans ; Pregnancy ; Cesarean Section/adverse effects* ; Critical Illness ; Hydroxychloroquine/therapeutic use* ; Hypesthesia/complications* ; Immunoglobulins, Intravenous/therapeutic use* ; Inflammation/complications* ; Neuromyelitis Optica/diagnosis* ; Paralysis/complications* ; Pregnancy Complications/therapy* ; Rituximab/therapeutic use* ; Sjogren's Syndrome/complications* ; Steroids/therapeutic use* ; Vision Disorders